[originaltext] Venezuela. Thousands of oil workers have gone on strike to de

Venezuela. Thousands of oil workers have gone on strike to demand a pay increase. Union leaders say 90% of the country’s 40,000 oil workers have stopped working. However, the Venezuelan oil industry officials say operations remain the same. They say it will be one week until the strike affects oil exports. The oil workers are demanding a 15% pay increase ordered for all government workers by President Hugo Chavez. The state-owned oil company says the presidential order does not include oil workers. Also Venezuelan school teachers went on strike demanding a similar pay increase.
Q: Why have Venezuelan oil workers gone on strike?

Turkey. A newly-appointed finance minister has announced a program to rescue the economy. Kemal Dervis said the plan calls for changing companies owned by the state into private businesses. It also calls for banking reforms and cuts in government spending. As Mr. Dervis spoke, about 10,000 demonstrators held a peaceful protest in Istanbul. They demanded the resignation of Turkey’s coalition government. The Turkish lira has lost about 40% of its value against the American dollar in the last 8 weeks.
Q: Who has announced a plan to rescue the Turkish economy?